Citizenship is a participatory process, and it takes full recognition of the rights and responsibilities entailed to create civically healthy communities. This is why, NCoC has traditionally concludes our program with a naturalization ceremony to help everyone, natural-born or naturalized citizens, recommit themselves in service and dedication to our country.

The 2011 naturalization ceremony was facilitated by Citizenship Counts, an Arizona-based nonprofit that works on issues of citizenship and civic education. It welcomed 20 new Americans and features remarks from Gerda Weissman Klein.

Gerda Weissman Klein is founder of Citizenship Counts, a humanitarian, an author, a Holocaust survivor, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor. Her speech, including her personal story is highlighted here: